A brief history of boll weevil research and eradication efforts since World War II

76 Pages·1993·4.5 MB·English

by  Smith, James W

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

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CATALOGING PREP
A Brief History of Boll Weevil Research and Eradication Efforts
Since World War II
JAMES W. SMITH
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
Boll Weevil Research Unit
Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-5367
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Early emphasis in boll weevil management was placed on mechanical and
cultural control. Even in 1910 the basic biology of the boll weevil was
well understood, and its more important natural enemies were known. But
interest in biological studies and biological control diminished in the
1930's when calcium arsenate was first used as an effective control of the
boll weevil. Later, in the mid-1940's, the highly persistent arsenate was
replaced by organic insecticides with the introduction of DDT, BHC, and
Toxaphene. These were followed by other synthetic organic chlorinated
hydrocarbon insecticides including aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor,
Strobane, and TDE. The new insecticides possessed two qualities of great
importance: 1) high initial toxicity ia the cotton pest insects, and 2)
sufficient persistence to control newly emerging insects or insects
migrating from untreated to treated areas.
The chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides had a great impact on cotton
production. For the first time, cotton producers were able to achieve
highly effective control of all arthropod pests of the crop. It then
became profitable for producers to increase the use of fertilizer and
irrigation, and to incorporate long-growing indeterminate varieties.
Spectacular yield increases were obtained at higher profit levels for the
next 20 years.
The apparent victory over pest insects of cotton was not lasting. By
the mid-1950's, the boll weevil in Louisiana and Mississippi had developed
resistance to these chemicals. The resistant pest strain spread rapidly
across the southern and southwestern states and all infested areas were
reporting chlorinated-hydrocarbon-resistant weevils by 1960 (Roussel and
Clower 1957; Brazzel et al. 1961).
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This problem was solved by a switch to the organophosphorus (OP)
insecticides, mainly methyl parathion, azinphosmethyl, ethyl parathion,
and malathion. The organophosphorus compounds were highly toxic to the
boll weevil at relatively low concentration rates, but higher rates were
needed for the bollworm and tobacco budworm.
In 1958, the National Cotton Council passed a resolution that called for
increased research and development to provide the technology for the
eradication of the boll weevil from the United States. At the request of
the House and Senate Agricultural Committees of the U.S. Congress, a
working group was appointed by USDA to review the existing boll weevil
research programs, the need for a more comprehensive research effort, and
the areas which should be supported by USDA. As a result of the
recommendations of this working group, Congress appropriated funds to
establish the Boll Weevil Research Laboratory adjacent to the Mississippi
State University campus and to augment the funding level at other USDA
stations and the State Experiment Stations. The Boll Weevil Research
Laboratory was dedicated in 1962 with the stated goal of ultimately
eradicating the boll weevil.
During the period from 1945 through 1960, 250 research papers were
published on the boll weevil with 77% on chemical control or resistance to
insecticides (Table 1.)
The following chronological list summarizes research highlights of this
period:
1944 - Ivy carried out early tests with DDT.
1949 - Ewing and Parencia reported on early-season control studies
in Wharton County, Texas.
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1950 Isley used trap crop to concentrate weevils for insecticide
use.
959 Roussel and Clower reported on resistance of boll weevil to
organochlorine insecticides.
19sés National Cotton Council tel aa BPEOLUES OR Ear called for
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for eradication. Vanderzant et al. laboratory-reared boll
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weevils for research tests.
ARIE) Fye et al. researched hibernation habitat. Gaines reported
on hibernation activity as related to temperature. Brazzel
and Newsom described diapause. Brazzel reported on diapause
control research. Earle et al. reported on larval diet.
1960 Construction began on Boll Weevil Research Laboratory at
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their own destruction. USDA hired new scientists to research
boll weevils.
During the next decade, the research effort became somewhat more diverse
as a result of the increased funding and drive toward eradication.
Considerable progress was made in certain areas including, rearing,
sterilization techniques, chemical application for reproductive diapause
control, and pheromone attraction and trap development.
Events of this decade can be capsuled as follows:
1961 - Gast started improving laboratory-reared weevils. Research
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began at ARS Boll Weevil Research Laboratory. Lloyd and
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Merkl reported on the Seasonal occurrence 2 weevil diapause
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in Mississippi. Lambremont reported on water content and
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respiration in diapause.
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